Lafourche residents can apply for food, housing aid

Published: Monday, September 3, 2012 at 6:17 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, September 3, 2012 at 6:17 p.m.

Disaster food stamps and temporary housing money are available to applicants who qualify in Lafourche and eight other parishes that sustained damage during Hurricane Isaac.

The Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, referred to as DSNAP, provides food assistance for eligible households who do not receive regular food stamps and who need help buying groceries due to lost income or damages following a disaster, state officials said in a news release.

FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance program which allows eligible evacuees from Hurricane Isaac whose neighborhoods are not accessible or whose houses have been destroyed to stay in a hotel or motel for a limited time and have the cost of the room and taxes paid directly to the hotel by FEMA.

“Transitional Sheltering Assistance offers survivors temporary accommodations until other housing options can be identified and put in place,” Federal Coordinating Officer Mike Hall said. “We are working closely with our state and local partners to develop a long-term housing solution to help Hurricane Isaac survivors until their homes and communities are repaired or rebuilt.”

The food-stamp program is administered by the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Aside from Lafourche, other parishes approved for both programs are Ascension, Jefferson, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. John the Baptist and St. Tammany.

Terrebonne, Assumption and St. Mary parishes have applied but is awaiting a decision by federal officials.

APPLYING FOR FOOD STAMPS

Those seeking food-stamp benefits are asked to pre-apply by Wednesday either online at www.dcfs.la.gov/preapply or www.getagameplan.org or by calling 1-888-LAHELP-U (888-524-3578) between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. When applying by phone, callers should select the appropriate language and then select options 3 and 3.

The following information is required when pre-applying:

- Names, Social Security Numbers and dates of birth for each household member.

- Address and parish where you live now.

- Monthly income for each household member.

- An accounting of all “liquid” financial resources for each household member (cash on hand, checking, savings).

Individuals in the approved parishes who pre-applied for must visit a DSNAP issuance site at a time to be determined to verify their identity and information to decide final eligibility before receiving benefit cards. Pre-applying does not guarantee benefits, and pre-applicants must go to a DSNAP site to complete the process.

Regular food-stamp households do not need to pre-apply. Households that receive regular those benefits in parishes where DSNAP has been activated will automatically have additional money added to their benefit cards if they are not already receiving the maximum allotment for their household size.

The state Family Services Department will open DSNAP sites beginning today from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Check houmatoday.com and dailycomet.com for updates on sites as they are announced. Once finalized, site locations will also be posted at www.dcfs.la.gov and will be available by calling 211 or 1-888-LAHELP-U.

An estimated 288,155 households could be eligible for DSNAP benefits in the nine declared parishes. Another 115,262 households who already receive regular SNAP benefits will have the disaster benefits automatically added to their EBT cards. Only households who resided in the nine parishes at the time of the disaster are eligible for DSNAP.

HOUSING AID

To be eligible for temporary housing aid, evacuees must meet the following criteria:

- The primary residence must be in one of the parishes that has been designated a disaster area;

- The primary residence must be inaccessible or unlivable due to damage or lack of power.

- FEMA must be able to verify identity.

The initial period of assistance is from Sept. 3-16. Meals, telephone calls and other incidental charges are not covered, and applicants are responsible for any lodging costs above the authorized allowance. The program does not reimburse previously incurred hotel expenses.

The first step for those impacted by Hurricane Isaac is to register for FEMA assistance online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via smart phone at m.fema.gov. Applicants without Internet access or smartphone may also call 1-800-621-3362 or TTY 1-800-462-7585. If you use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services, call 1-800-621-3362.

<p>Disaster food stamps and temporary housing money are available to applicants who qualify in Lafourche and eight other parishes that sustained damage during Hurricane Isaac.</p><p>The Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, referred to as DSNAP, provides food assistance for eligible households who do not receive regular food stamps and who need help buying groceries due to lost income or damages following a disaster, state officials said in a news release.</p><p>FEMA's Transitional Sheltering Assistance program which allows eligible evacuees from Hurricane Isaac whose neighborhoods are not accessible or whose houses have been destroyed to stay in a hotel or motel for a limited time and have the cost of the room and taxes paid directly to the hotel by FEMA.</p><p>“Transitional Sheltering Assistance offers survivors temporary accommodations until other housing options can be identified and put in place,” Federal Coordinating Officer Mike Hall said. “We are working closely with our state and local partners to develop a long-term housing solution to help Hurricane Isaac survivors until their homes and communities are repaired or rebuilt.”</p><p>The food-stamp program is administered by the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.</p><p>Aside from Lafourche, other parishes approved for both programs are Ascension, Jefferson, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. John the Baptist and St. Tammany.</p><p>Terrebonne, Assumption and St. Mary parishes have applied but is awaiting a decision by federal officials.</p><h3>APPLYING FOR FOOD STAMPS</h3>
<p>Those seeking food-stamp benefits are asked to pre-apply by Wednesday either online at www.dcfs.la.gov/preapply or www.getagameplan.org or by calling 1-888-LAHELP-U (888-524-3578) between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. When applying by phone, callers should select the appropriate language and then select options 3 and 3.</p><p>The following information is required when pre-applying:</p><p>- Names, Social Security Numbers and dates of birth for each household member.</p><p>- Address and parish where you live now.</p><p>- Monthly income for each household member.</p><p>- An accounting of all “liquid” financial resources for each household member (cash on hand, checking, savings). </p><p>Individuals in the approved parishes who pre-applied for must visit a DSNAP issuance site at a time to be determined to verify their identity and information to decide final eligibility before receiving benefit cards. Pre-applying does not guarantee benefits, and pre-applicants must go to a DSNAP site to complete the process.</p><p>Regular food-stamp households do not need to pre-apply. Households that receive regular those benefits in parishes where DSNAP has been activated will automatically have additional money added to their benefit cards if they are not already receiving the maximum allotment for their household size.</p><p>The state Family Services Department will open DSNAP sites beginning today from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Check houmatoday.com and dailycomet.com for updates on sites as they are announced. Once finalized, site locations will also be posted at www.dcfs.la.gov and will be available by calling 211 or 1-888-LAHELP-U.</p><p>An estimated 288,155 households could be eligible for DSNAP benefits in the nine declared parishes. Another 115,262 households who already receive regular SNAP benefits will have the disaster benefits automatically added to their EBT cards. Only households who resided in the nine parishes at the time of the disaster are eligible for DSNAP.</p><p>Here are the benefit amounts for eligible families, which are based on household size: One household member, $200; two, $367; three, $526; four, $668; five, $793; six, $952; seven, $1,052; eight, $1,202; each additional member, $150.</p><h3>HOUSING AID</h3>
<p>To be eligible for temporary housing aid, evacuees must meet the following criteria:</p><p>- The primary residence must be in one of the parishes that has been designated a disaster area; </p><p>- The primary residence must be inaccessible or unlivable due to damage or lack of power.</p><p>- FEMA must be able to verify identity.</p><p>The initial period of assistance is from Sept. 3-16. Meals, telephone calls and other incidental charges are not covered, and applicants are responsible for any lodging costs above the authorized allowance. The program does not reimburse previously incurred hotel expenses.</p><p>The first step for those impacted by Hurricane Isaac is to register for FEMA assistance online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via smart phone at m.fema.gov. Applicants without Internet access or smartphone may also call 1-800-621-3362 or TTY 1-800-462-7585. If you use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services, call 1-800-621-3362.</p>